Penguins’ Caleb Jones suspended 20 games for violating performance enhancing substance program
On Wednesday, the NHL announced that Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones has been suspended 20 games for “violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.”
Caleb Jones of the @penguins has been suspended for 20 games. media.nhl.com/public/news/19…
Jones is suspended without pay. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, the suspension comes with a mandatory referral to the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program for further evaluation and treatment.
In a statement, Jones states that his positive test result was due to a contaminated substance connected to recent treatment.
“At the time of the test,” Jones’ statement read. “I was receiving an exosome therapy for a documented injury from an outside provider. I believe that my positive test was related to a contaminated substance associated with that treatment. While I did not use the prohibited substance intentionally or for performance enhancement, I understand that players are responsible for everything that enters their body and accept the discipline imposed by the program.
“I’m sorry to have let down my teammates, the Penguins organization, and our fans.”
Jones had been out of action for close to a month. He appeared in one game for the Penguins’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, in January. It was his first game action since Oct. 23 with Pittsburgh. He has missed the club’s last 45 games due to a lower-body injury.
Jones had been practicing with the Pens, with some believing he might be close to returning to the lineup, or maybe returning to the AHL for a conditioning stint.
In theory, the earliest Jones could return to the Pittsburgh lineup would be on April 2, when the team takes on the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Jones appeared in just seven games before the ailment, posting an assist on Oct. 11 against the New York Rangers. The Arlington, Texas native has appeared in 255 regular-season games in his NHL career, scoring 14 goals and 42 assists for 56 points.
The Penguins (28-15-12) are second in the Metropolitan Division, eight points back of the first-place Carolina Hurricanes.